Art Notes: May 12

Sunday

May 12, 2013 at 2:00 PM

Little Theater elects new board membersHendersonville Little Theater elected six new board members at its annual meeting on April 28.Linda Brookes will lead as president. Charlotte Overbaugh was selected to be volunteer coordinator, and Bobby Foster will run facilities. Ronnie Pepper will take over strategic planning, and Mike Covell and Ed Roberts are new trustees.Returning board members are Marc Paulhus, treasurer; Carol Davis, secretary; Sue Kamerick, patron membership; Kai Elijah Hamilton, artistic director; Jonathan Forrester, executive producer; John Arnett, technical director; Kelly Barnett, publicity; and Alan Ehrlich, trustee."The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde is the theater's next production, opening June 14 and running Thursdays through Sundays until June 30. The Little Theater is at 229 S. Washington St.

Library to host storyteller WednesdayStoryteller Gary Carden will perform at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Kaplan Auditorium of the Henderson County Public Library at 301 N. Washington St.Carden will share folk stories, myths and legends based on Appalachian culture. Noted North Carolina author Lee Smith said, "Gary Carden is a national treasure — an Appalachian Garrison Keillor. Half the time, I can't decide whether to slap my knee or burst into tears. The stories are little miracles: sweet, sad, funny and smart."Carden's stories appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. The event is free, and doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Bookfest to host children's eventsThe fifth annual Blue Ridge Bookfest will take place Friday and Saturday at Blue Ridge Community College Henderson County campus. The featured authors will represent a wide array of genres and include award winners, best-selling authors, renowned scholars, children's writers, and writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry.New this year, the Youth Services staff of the Henderson County Public Library will present a puppet show at 10:30 a.m. Saturday featuring "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and "Hansel and Gretel." The show will be followed by a handmade book craft project. These activities will be open to children ages 3 to grade five. Children's authors Scotti Cohn and Loretta Hayward will read to the kids at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.Visit www.blueridge bookfest.org for more information.Book appraisals Chandler Gordon, proprietor of The Captain's Bookshelf in Asheville and an expert on antiquarian books, will appraise books on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Blue Ridge Community College during Bookfest.Attendees are invited to bring their rare books that are in good shape for his inspection. A $3 fee per book is required.

SALUDAAnnual arts festival downtown on SaturdayThe 10th annual Saluda Arts Festival is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on historic Main Street. The event will feature more than 90 artists and craftsmen, music, the children's art tent, art and craft demonstrators, and food from local restaurants. Sponsored by the Saluda Business Association, this year's festival is dedicated to the late artist Johnny Waddill, who permitted the festival's organizers to use his painting to brand the Saluda Arts Festival.Entertainment schedule:u 11 a.m.: Magician and TV personality Jack Roper u 11 a.m.: Spring concert from the Dancer's Extension at Saluda Schoolu Noon: Sol Driven Train children's concertu 1 p.m.: Clay Ross Band with Brazilian-style rhythmsu 3 p.m.: Sol Driven Train, a five-piece band based in Charleston, S.C., will perform Visit saluda.com for more information.

TRYONTFAC to host sculptors' panel discussionTryon Fine Arts Center will host a special evening with four area sculptors — Stoney Lamar, Dustin Farnsworth, Dale McEntire and Dale Weiler — from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The artists will discuss their art and the process of creation in a panel discussion format. The event is part of the Sculpture 2013 exhibit on display in the building and on the grounds at Tryon Fine Arts Center until May 30. Lamar of Saluda has contributed skill and vision to the world of wood turning for more than 25 years. A retrospective of his career, "A Sense of Balance," is on display at the Asheville Art Museum.Farnsworth, a resident artist at Penland School of Arts and Crafts, is a sculptor whose work examines the relationship between human beings and their physical and mental environment. Weiler of Tryon describes himself as a sculptor of stone. He chose this medium because of the "feel of the stone" and the technical challenge of working with probably the most demanding and unforgiving medium of all art forms. McEntire produces both oil and pastel paintings and sculpture (stone, steel, glass, bronze) out of his studio in Saluda. His interest in the spiritual essence of nature can be seen in his use of color and form.There is no charge for the sculptor panel discussion; donations will be accepted at the door. Light refreshments will be served. Call 828-859-8322 or visit www.tryonarts.org for more information.

ASHEVILLE‘Play' exhibit opensThe Asheville Art Museum at 2 S. Pack Square will host a reception from 5-7 p.m. Friday for "Play," an exhibit opening in the museum's East Wing.As the name suggests, "Play" explores themes of leisure, play and creativity and includes many works from the museum's permanent collection. The family-friendly opening reception will include special entertainment provided by the Asheville Hoops Troupe, face painting by Asheville Face & Body Painting and interactive games by O.P. Taylor's of Asheville. Sweet treats and refreshments for all ages will also be provided. Children, families and visitors of all ages are encouraged to attend."Play" also acknowledges the role that playful activity has as a primary source of cognitive development in a child's life, through which basic social skills are learned and carried into adulthood. The act of play is also recognized for its relaxing and stimulating qualities, and as a means to make work more productive and pleasurable. "Play" will be on display through Sept. 29. Visit www.ashevilleart.org for more information.

Flat RockEnrollment underway for YouTheatre classesYouTheatre at Flat Rock Playhouse, sponsored by Mission Health, is enrolling students in summer classes. Disciplines include acting, playwriting, musical theater, improv, dance, claymation and stage combat. Highlights of the summer classes include the YT Summer Vagabonds for grades five-12, which will have students performing a children's play that will tour locally to branches of the Henderson County Public Library system. This tour is part of the Collaborative Summer Library Program, a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children at the lowest cost possible for their public libraries. The campaign is called "Dig Into Reading." Performances will take place the week of June 24. Hendersonville High School drama teacher Todd Weakley will be leading the Twelve Point Five Playwriting Blast for grades seven-12. Playwrights in this camp will be faced with a blank page. Students will collaborate, improve, create, write, direct and perform an original play in 12.5 hours. East Hendersonville High School drama teacher Zach Walker will lead On the Spot! Improvisational Camp for grades six-12. Students will learn the basic rules of improvisation in group and solo acting exercises, by playing games and performing in short skits in which students work without a script. They will also learn how to use improv skills for working in traditional plays and musicals. YouTheatre alumna Kylee Odom will be teaching Broadway Musical Choreography to grades six-12. This is an opportunity to learn choreography from Broadway musicals.Classes are also available for younger students, such as YT Workshop Camp for grades one-six. This morning camp allows students to experience all forms of theater arts, including music, movement, creative arts, drama games and more. Grades five-12 can take part in a workshop called Hip-Hop. This intense master class will let students experience why hip-hop has become one of the most popular dance forms.Visit www.ytrocks.com for more information.

TRYONCamera club meetingThe Carolina Camera Club meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. May 21 in the Mahler Room of Tryon Fine Arts Center. At the meeting, members will be making decisions on which photographs to show and asking questions about final preparation touches. Doug Nikau also will present a video that shows how to blend two images of different exposures and extends the dynamic range of a single image. The video also shows how to replace skies in a photograph. Carolina Camera Club meetings are open to anyone interested in photography.ASHEVILLEWriters' workshop events listedThe Writer's Workshop at 387 Beaucatcher Road, Asheville announces the following upcoming events:uThursday-May 19: The annual Writer's Retreat at Folly Beach near Charleston, S.C., for beginning or experienced writers of fiction, plays, nonfiction or memoirs. The all-inclusive rate, except for meals, is $498 for a private room, or $450 share. The commuter rate is $55 per day.u The 25th annual Hard Times Contest, open to any writer in the U.S., is accepting entries of 4,000 words or less postmarked by June 30. The entry fee is $20 for workshop members and $25 for nonmembers. Guidelines are posted online at www.twwoa.orgCall 828-254-8111 or email writersw@gmail.com for more information.

ASHEVILLECraft Guild fiber weekend ends todayThe Southern Highland Craft Guild fiber weekend continues through today at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway in east Asheville.Craftsmen will be sharing their inspiration and expertise about textile arts.Today, the Folk Art Center's auditorium will be transformed into a runway for the 14th annual Fashion Show of Wearable Art. Fiber artist Liz Spear will be mistress of ceremonies for the event. Styles showcased will range from contemporary to traditional, from funky to classic, made by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and other regional artists.Throughout the fashion show, Spear will explore fiber art processes and focus on the various schools and studios in the area that offer classes in textiles. There will be two showings of the fashion show, at 1 and 3 p.m.In upcoming events, the Folk Art Center Clay Day is set for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 1. The free event will features craft demonstrations and hands-on activities for children and adults. The fiber weekend and clay day are free events. Call 828-298-7928 or visit www.craftguild.org for more information.

Poetry contest accepting entriesAnyone who has ever written a poem is eligible to enter the Free Poetry Contest sponsored by Poetryfest, a nonprofit organization devoted to discovering new poets and helping them achieve a wider audience for their poetry. One hundred prizes will be awarded, and the last poet standing will receive a $1,000 cash reward. The rules are simple: Send one poem of 21 lines or fewer to Free Poetry Contest, P.O. Box 3561, Ashland, OR 97520, or enter online at www. freecontest.com. The deadline to enter is June 10.Those sending entries should include their name and address on the same page as the poem. A winners' list will be sent to all entrants, along with a free copy of the contest director's popular essay, "How to Win a Poetry Contest."Email bettystarrjoyal@yahoo.com for more information.